Controllably area-enlargeable and area-reducible table apparatus



y 1962 T. w. RIENDEAU 3,033,629

CONTROLLABLY AREA-ENLARGEABLE AND AREA-REDUCIBLE TABLE APPARATUS Filed March 7, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet l IJ'IIIII/IIIIIIII/IIII v Zoe INVEN TOR. THOMAS W. RIENDEAU May 8, 1962 CONTROLLABLY AREA-ENLARGEABLE AND AREA-REDUCIBLE Filed March 7, 1960 W. RIENDEAU TABLE APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVEN TOR. THOMAS W. RIENDEAU 3,033,629 CONTROLLABLY AREA-ENLARGEABLE AND AREA-REDUCIBLE TABLE APPARATUS Thomas W. Riendeau, 1323 N. Seward St., Los Angeles 28, Calif., assignor of one-tenth to Gadget-f- The-Month Club, Inc, North Hollywood, Calif., a

corporation of California Filed Mar. 7, 1960, Ser. No. 13,086 4 Claims. (Cl. 311-47) The present invention consists of cont-rolla-bly areaenlargeable and area-reducible table apparatus comprising a table including two separable end portions and a captive-area-increasing leaf normally positioned underneath the joined table end portions in an unobtrusive outof-sight location and adapted to be elevated by leafelevating means into a position between the table end portions when they are moved into extended cent-rally spaced relationship with respect to each other whereby to fill the central space between said table end portions and whereby to effectively increase the overall surface area of the table. In one preferred form of the present invention, the leaf-elevating means includes spring means normally biasing the captive leaf upwardly and includes controllably operable and controllably releasable restraining means for holding the captive leaf in a downwardly displaced position below the level of each of the table end portions against the action of the biasing spring means, with said restraining means, in one preferred form, comprising a longitudinal tensile member connected to the captive leaf, a pulley sheave engaging an intermediate portion of the longitudinal tensile member, and a manually operable lever member connected to the other end of the longitudinal tensile member and pivotally attached underneath one of the table end portions for manually controllable operation.

In another preferred form of the present invention, the leaf-elevating means may include track means carried by one or both of the table end portions thereunder at opposite sides thereof and track follower pin means carried by the .captive leaf at spaced locations and in slidable engagement with the track means, and with the track means rising toward the center of the table whereby, when the table end portions are longitudinally extended into centrally spaced relationship with respect to each other, the track follower pin means will ride along the track means upwardly whereby to centrally elevate the captive leaf into the central space between the extended table end portions, and with the top part of the captive leaf lying in a common horizontal plane with the top parts of each of the table end portions. In this preferred form, the track means may additionally include captive-leaf-holding detent portions adapted to hold the captive leaf in the elevated position when the table end portions are forced thereagainst in endwise-relationship.

In the preferred form of the invention, the table may also include framework means slidably interconnecting the table end portions for longitudinal extension and retraction with respect to each other in a horizontal direction.

It is an object of the present invention to provide areaenlargeable and area-reducible table apparatus including a controllably vertically displaceable captive leaf, which normally lies below joined table end portions of the table but which is adapted to be effectively elevated into a common plane positioned between the table end portions upon extension of said table end portions into extended relationship, allowing operation of leaf-elevating means adapted to upwardly move the captive leaf into position between the centrally spaced end portions, which may then be moved back toward each other so as to abut 3,033,629 Patented May 8, 1962 opposite end edges of the centrally positioned captive leaf.

It is a further object to provide apparatus of the character set forth above wherein the leaf-elevating means includes spring means normally biasing the captive leaf upwardly and restraining means for normally holding it downwardly displaced against the action of the biasing spring means.

It is a further object to provide apparatus of the character set forth in the second preceding object wherein the leaf-elevating means comprises track and track follower means so arranged that extension of the table end portions causes the track follower means to move upwardly along the track means whereby to effectively elevate the captive leaf means into a centrally positioned location at the proper height for junction in a common plane with the opposed table end portions, and wherein detent means is provided for effectively holding the captive leaf in the elevated central position when the table end portionslal'e forced thereagainst in endwise relationship.

it is a further object to provide an apparatus of the character set forth above which is of extremely simple, cheap, foolproof construction such as to be conducive to widespread use thereof.

Further objects will be apparent .to persons skilled in the art after a careful study hereof.

For the purpose of clarifying the nature of the present invention, several exemplary embodiments are illustrated in the hereinbelow-described figures of the accompanying drawings, and are described in detail hereinafter.

FIG. 1 is a reduced-size fragmentary perspective view of one exemplary embodiment of the present invention with the two table end portions in retracted position abutting each other along a central junction region. In other words, the table is closed and is in condition for operative use and presents its smallest top surface area.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of the table with the two table end portions in fully extended position such as to allow the center captive leaf to rise between the table end portions into a common plane with the top surfaces of said table end portions. In other words, this view shows the table after full extension and just prior to moving the table end portions back togetherslightly so as to abut the captive area-increasing leaf in the center of the table. It should be noted that the flat'top part of each of the table end portions and also the fiat top part or surface of the area-increasing leaf are shown in phantom in order to allow the important parts of the working apparatus lying thereunder to be clearly seen in FIG. 2.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary reduced-size sectional view taken in the direction of the arrows 33 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken in the direction of the arrows 4-4 of FIG. 2 but showing the top surface parts of the table end portions and the captive leaf in solid lines rather than in phantom as in FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a view very similar to FIG. 4 but shows the apparatus in the position it assumes after the two table end portions of FIG. 4 are moved toward each other slightly so as to abut and engage opposite ends of the center captive area-increasing leaf.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken in the direction of the arrows 6-6 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional View taken in the direction of the arrows 7-7 of FIG. land shows one of the spring means normally biasing the captive leaf upwardly, the four spring means similar to the one shown in FIG. 7 being shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 3 but showing a modified form of the invention employing a different type of leaf-elevating means.

FIG. 9 is a larger-scale view similar to FIG. 4 but shows the modified form of the invention illustrated in FIG. 8 when it is in the fully extended position prior to subsequent movement into the position shown in FIG. 10.

FIG. 10 is a view similar to FIG. but of the modified form of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 842, and shows the table end portions moved toward each other from the position shown in FIG. 9 until they abut opposite ends of the center captive area-increasing leaf.

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary edge sectional view taken in the direction of the arrows 1111 of FIG. 8 and shows one of the track follower pin means slidably positioned in one of the track means, the four pairs of which (as best shown in FIG. 12) together comprise the modified type of leaf-elevating means shown in the second version of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 8-12.

FIG. 12 is a viewvery similar to FIG. 2-that is, the top surface parts of the table end portions and the captive center leaf portion are shown in phantom in order to allow the details of the underlying working mechanism to be clearly shown. However, this view is of the modified form of the invention employing the four pin-ininclined-track leaf-elevating mechanism, which differs from the lever, pulley, and biasing spring leaf-elevating mechanism of the first form of the invention illustrated inFIGS. 1-7.

More specifically, as shown in N68. l7, one exemplary form of the present invention which is not to be construed in a limiting sense, takes a particular form wherein the hereinbefore-referred-to table is indicated generally at 20 and consists of two separable table end portions 20L and 29R, each including a substantially flat top surface part 21L and 21R, respectively, lying in a common horizontal plane and adapted to be controllably extending and retracted with respect to each other for area-increasing and area-reducing purposes.

In the specific form of the invention illustrated, this extension and retraction operation is facilitated by frameworkrneans indicated generally at 22 which effectively slidably interconnects the table end portions 26L and 20R for longitudinal extension from the retracted position shown in FIGS. 1 and 3 into the extended postion shown in FIGS. '2 and 4. In the specific example illustrated, the frame work means 12 includes the fixed framework portion 23 and the slidable framework portion 24, which are slidably interengaged for the above-described extending and/or retracting relative movement of the table end portions 29L and 20R.

In the specific example illustrated in FIGS. l-7, the table 2 is provided with a captive area-increasing leaf 25 having a flat top surface 26, normally is positioned underneath the joined table end portions 26L and 20R in an unobtrusive out-of-sight offset location, as is best shown in FIGS. 1 and 3. The captive area-increasing leaf 25 is effectively provided with leaf-elevating means, indicated generally at 27, which is cooperative with the captive leaf 25 and at least one of the table end portions 2M. and/ or ZGR'for elevating the captive leaf 25 between said table end portions when they are moved from the retracted position shown in FIGS. 1 and 3 into the extended position shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, which provides a central open space 28, so as to fill said central space 23 with the captive leaf 25 as shown in FIG. 4. Then the table end portions 20L and 26R are moved toward each other, which will allow projections 29 to engage corresponding holes 3i in a manner such as to firmly fix the captive leaf 25in co-planar relationship between the top surface 21L and 21R of the table end portions ZQL and 20R. It will readily be understood that this has the effect of increasing the overall top surface area of the table 20, which can be effectively reduced by reversing the above-described operation and moving the captive leaf 25 back downwardly into its normal downwardly displaced position below the joined table end portions 20L and ZQR as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3. It should be noted that in the specific form of the invention illustrated inFIGS. 1-7, the'leaf-elevating means indicated'generally at 27 includes spring means 31 normally biasing the captive leaf 25 upwardly and also includes controllably operable and controllably releasable restraining means consisting of the longitudinal tensile member 32 having one end connected to the captive leaf, as indicated at 33, a pulley sheave 34 engaging an intermediate portion of the longitudinal tensile member 32, and a lever member 35 connected to the other end 36 of the longitudinal tensile member 32 and pivotally attached as indicated at 37 underneath the table end portion 20L for 'manually controllable operation between the captive leaf lower position shown in FIGS. 1 and 3 and the captive leaf upper position shown in FIGS. 2 and 4. The operation of the form of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 1-7 may be briefly described as follows: When the table is in the retracted position shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, and it is desired to effectively expand the top surface area thereof, the lever 35 is grasped and moved into actuated position applying tension to the longitudinal tensile member 32 so as to effectively hold the captive leaf 25 in its lowermost position against the'action of the biasing springs 31. Then the two table end portions 26L and 20R are effectively extended with respect to each other into the extended position shown in FIGS. 2 and 4 and the lever 35 is released, which will allow the biasing springs 31 to force the captive leaf 25 upwardly into the position shown in FIGS. 2 and 4. Then the opposed table end portions 20L and 20R are moved toward each other into locking abutment with end edges of the captive leaf 25 as shown in FIG. 5. The area-reducing operation is the reverse of that just described above.

FIG. 8-12 illustrate an other modified form of the invention which is very similar to the first form except that the leaf-elevating means 27' is somewhat different and includes transversely slotted track means 38 carried on the inner opposed surfaces of downwardly directed flange portions 39 of each of the table end portions 20L and 20R, and further includes oppositely directed trackfollower pin means 49 carried by the captive leaf 2.5 at opposite ends thereof and in slidable engagement with the track means 38. It will be noted that the track means 38 rises at it extends from each end of the table toward the center of the table whereby when the table end portions 29L and MR are positioned in end-to-end abutment as shown in FIG. 8; the track-follower pin means 46} are held in low enough position between engaged portions of the track means 38 as to effectively maintain and position the captive leaf means 25' underneath the joined center of the table, but whereby when the table end portions 20L and ZilR are longitudinally extended into centrally spaced relationship with respect to each other, the track-follower pin means 40 will ride along the track means 33 upwardly toward the center thereof whereby to centrally elevate the captive leaf 25' into the central space 28 between the extended tableend portions ZiiL and 26R and with the top part 26' of the captive leaf 25' lying in the common horizontal plane in which the top surfaces or parts ML and 21R of each of the table end portions 20L and 20R also lie, as shown in FIG. 9.

It should be noted that the track means 38 additionally includes captive-leaf-holding detent portions 41 adapted to hold the track-follower pin means 4%? and, therefore, also to hold the captive leaf 25 in the elevated position shown in FIG. 9 when the table end portions 20L and 291R are forced thereagainst in endwise relationship. This is best shown in FIG. 10. It will readily be understood that extension of each of the table end portions 20L and 29R from the position shown in FIG. 10 into the position shown in FIG. 9 will allow the track-follower pin means 46 to be disengaged from the detent portions 41 whereby movement of the table end portions 20L and 245R toward each other will cause the track-follower pin means 40 to move outwardly and downwardly along the track means BS-in'a manner such as to effectively down- J wardly displace the captive leaf 25 into its lowermost position, as shown in FIG. 8 underneath the joined table end portions 20L and 20R.

It should be noted that various means for slidably interconnecting the table end portions may be employed within the scope of the present invention. It should also be noted that the elevating means may be modified substantially within the basic spirit and scope of the present invention.

Additionally, it should be noted that the area-increasing and/or area-reducing captive leaf of the present invention may be incorporated in structures other than tables where it may be desirable to effectively increase and/ or decrease a surface area portion thereof.

It should be understood that the figures and the specific description thereof set forth in this application are for the purpose of illustrating the present invention and are not to be construed as limiting the present invention to the precise and detailed specific structure shown in the figures and specifically described hereinbefore. Rather, the real invention is intended to include substantially equivalent constructions embodying the basic teachings and inventive concept of the present invention.

I claim:

1. Controllably area-enlargeable and area-reducible table apparatus, comprising: a table including two separable end portions each including a substantially fiat top part lying in a common horizontal plane and adapted to be controllably extended and retracted with respect to each other for area-increasing and area-reducing purposes; a captive area-increasing leaf having a flat top part and normally being positioned underneath the level of the joined table end portions in an unobtrusive outof-sight location; and leaf-elevating means cooperating with said captive leaf and at least oneof the table end portions for elevating said captive leaf between said table end portions when they are moved into extended centrally spaced relationship with respect to each other, with said elevated captive leaf being moved upwardly thereby so as to fill the central space between said table end portions and so as to lie with its flat top part in the common horizontal plane in which the flat top part of each of the table end portions also lies, said leaf-elevating means Y including track means carried by at least one of said table end portionsthereunder at opposite sides thereof, and track-follower pin means carried by the captive leaf at spaced locations and in engagement with the track means, with said track means rising toward the center of the table whereby when the table end portions are longitudinally extended into centrally spaced relationship with respect to each other, the track-follower pin means will ride along the track means upwardly whereby to centrally elevate the captive leaf into the center space between the extended table end portions and with the top part of the captive leaf lying in the common horizontal plane in which the top part of each of the table end portions also lies.

2. Apparatus of the character defined in claim 1, wherein said track means additionally includes captiveleaf-holding detent means adapted to hold the captive leaf in the elevated position when the table end portions are forced thereagainst in endwise relationship.

3. Controllably area-enlargeable and area-reducible table apparatus, comprising: a table including two separable end portions each including a substantially fiat top part lying in a common horizontal plane and adapted to be controllably extended and retracted with respect to each other for area-increasing and area-reducing purposes; a captive area-increasing leaf having a flat top part and normally being positioned underneath the level of the joined table end portions in an unobtrusive outof-sight location; and leaf-elevating means cooperating with said captive leaf and at least one of the table end portions for elevating said captive leaf between said table end portions when they are moved into extended centrally spaced relationship with respect to each other, with said elevated captive leaf being moved upwardly thereby so as to fill the central space between said table end portions and so as to lie with its flat top part in the common horizontal plane in which the flat top part of each of the table end portions also lies, said leaf-elevating means including transversely slotted track means carried by both of said table end portions thereunder at opposite sides thereof, and corresponding track-follower pin means carried by the captive leaf on opposite sides thereof at spaced locations and in engagement with the track means, with said track means rising toward the center of the table whereby when the table end portions are longitudinally extended into centrally spaced relationship with respect to each other, the track-follower pin means will ride along the track means upwardly whereby to centrally elevate the captive leaf into the center space between the extended table end portions and with the top part of the captive leaf lying in the common horizontal plane in which the top par-t of each of the table end portions also lies.

4. Apparatus of the character defined in claim 3, wherein said track means additionally includes captiveleaf-holding detent portions adapted to hold the captive leaf in the elevated position when the table end portions are forced thereagainst in endwise relationship.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 569,059 Roberts Oct. 6, 1896 580,543 Bradford Apr. 13, 1897 1,037,758 Harris Sept. 3, 1912 1,143,853 Olson June 22, 1915 1,778,666 FOX Oct. 14, 1930 1,836,404 -Segal Dec. 15, 1931 2,950,561 Crosno Aug. 11, 1936 

